挿 means “insert”

さす · sasu

Also: put in, graft, wear (sword)

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

さす, はさむ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ソウ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 10 strokes

The story

A hand (扌) easing one thing into another, like a stem into an ikebana vase: 挿す is to insert. 挿絵 are the pictures slipped between a book's pages, and 挿入 is the Insert in every Japanese software menu.

Used in 挿す (sasu, to insert/put in), 挿絵 (sashie, illustration), and 挿入 (sounyuu, insertion)

More from Grip, Rub & Twist

• 抹 rub out
• 搾 squeeze
• 拭 wipe
• 貼 stick
• 捻 twist
• 剝 peel
• 塡 fill
• 摘 pick out
• 振 wave
• 握 grip
• 携 carry
• 扱 handle

Learn 挿 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.